The area where Rocky lives is very similar to the desert mountain area in northern AZ. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

On Mar 4, 2013, at 8:50 PM, Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Those unfamiliar with the Pacific Northwest must understand that the wet
> and rainy part only extends as far eastward as the first mountain range.
> Here, in Central Oregon, shielded as we are from the wetness of the
> Pacific influence by the Cascade Mountains, it is quite dry.
> 
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
> 
> On 03/04/2013 07:22 PM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>> Actually, camping in the rainy Northwest will pretty much take care of the
>> problem!
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Alistair Bell [mailto:albell@SHAW.CA]
>> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 6:54 PM
>> To: Stuart MacMillan
>> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: pop top heads up
>> 
>> Stuart,
>> 
>> true enough, occasional washing would be good :)
>> 
>> alistair
>> 
>> 
>> On 2013-03-04, at 6:47 PM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>> 
>>> Or wash it once in a while with the top up!  The '85 I bought in May was
>>> from dry eastern Oregon, and that area under the top was caked with dirt.
>> I
>>> doubt it had been washed in 20 years.  It was so gritty the rust was
>> sanded
>>> off naturally by the vibration of driving.  I did repaint the area though
>>> after a complete top-off refurbishment.
>>> 
>>> Stuart
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> Subject: pop top heads up
>>> 
>>> Neil posted a query on the samba about adjusting "the lay" of the pop top
>> a
>>> few days ago, and it only just occurred to me to mention another potential
>>> issue with pop tops. Back at the rear, from curved portion to curved
>>> portion, right across the back, the pop top seal can wear on the roof and
>>> remove the paint (I think trapped grit/dust does the actual wearing away).
>>> I've seen more than a couple of vans with rust spots on the metal roof
>> from
>>> this. So have a look at yours, if you see any wear on the paint apply some
>>> sort of tape for protection.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> alistair
>>>